Okaloosa County officials and community leaders gathered Wednesday morning to break ground on a new Agriculture Extension Office, marking the next step in replacing a storm-damaged building and expanding agricultural education services in the area.

• The groundbreaking ceremony took place at 7:30 a.m. near Miss Ruth’s Farmers Market at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds, located at 1954 Lewis Turner Blvd. 

The event celebrated the start of construction on a 3,000-square-foot facility that will serve as the new home for the county’s University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (UF IFAS) Extension programs.

Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who has been a driving force behind the project, addressed the attendees, highlighting the importance of the new facility and the journey to make it a reality.

• “This groundbreaking has been four years in the making,” Ketchel said. “Hurricane Sally, in 2020, destroyed what was left of the already dilapidated building that housed the University of Florida Food and Agricultural Services in the South End.”

The commissioner emphasized that the project has been a collaborative effort, involving local officials, state representatives, and various county departments. She specifically thanked Representative Patt Maney for his role in securing additional funding through the legislature.

“We asked Representative Maney to help us with additional money to fund our south-end extension service. He was able to win this victory in the legislature,” Ketchel noted. She also pointed out that the building’s address will bear Maney’s name, as the road is named for Judge Patt Maney.

The new Agriculture Learning Center will feature space for large groups, a full teaching kitchen, a small laboratory, storage, and offices. It is designed to offer a variety of courses, programs, workshops, and meetings covering agriculture, family and consumer sciences, commercial and residential horticulture, natural resources, and 4-H Youth Development program areas.

Julie Dillard, Interim District Extension Director, expressed her enthusiasm for the project. “This new facility will allow us to expand our reach and provide even more comprehensive services to the residents of Okaloosa County,” Dillard said. “From educating young people through 4-H to offering vital agricultural information to our farmers, this center will be a hub of knowledge and growth for our community.”

Dana Stephens, County Extension Director, echoed these sentiments. “We’re thrilled to see this project come to fruition,” Stephens stated. “The new Agriculture Learning Center will enable us to better serve our community with up-to-date facilities and resources. It’s a significant investment in the future of agriculture and education in our county.”

Commissioner Ketchel emphasized the broad impact of the Extension Service on daily life. “The Extension Service makes a difference in our lives every day. It hums along in the background of our lives, offering important services and classes,” she said. 

Ketchel, who comes from a long line of farmers dating back to the 1600s in America, highlighted the critical role of agriculture in the community.

• “We could not eat without our farmers and those who know how to store food and keep the lands producing,” Ketchel stated. “Without our bees, we lose 75 percent of our crops and I can’t even imagine what that would be like. This knowledge must be taught and passed down to a new generation.”

The commissioner outlined some of the key areas that the Extension Service covers, including food science, health and nutrition, home management, disaster preparedness, fruit and vegetable cultivation in Florida, landscaping, pet care, disease management, conservation, beekeeping, soil and water testing, and invasive species control.

The project has overcome several hurdles since its inception in 2021. Ketchel explained that the county pledged the property towards a matching grant from IFAS to secure the building. She clarified that the property has been with the county for many years and is not part of the recently purchased fairground property, maintaining the commitment to keep the fairground as green space.

One significant challenge was securing funding from the state level. Ketchel recounted a conversation with Governor Ron DeSantis where she identified the extension service as her top priority for Okaloosa County. 

• “I think it is important to note that we are the only extension office during his tenure that has not been vetoed by his pen,” she said, expressing gratitude for the support.

Ketchel emphasized the importance of agricultural education in today’s society. “So many have little knowledge of how food is produced and appears in the grocery store,” she said. The new facility aims to bridge this knowledge gap and provide essential services to the community.

The groundbreaking ceremony concluded with 14 officials and community leaders, including Ketchel, taking up shovels to officially break ground on the new facility. The construction of the new Agriculture Learning Center is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.